North Korea technicians watch live images of the rocket Unha-3 at the satellite control room of the space center on the outskirts of Pyongyang earlier today. (Getty Images)

(Newser)
–
Ignoring international protests, North Korea says it is fueling its satellite rocket "as we speak" and could be ready to launch as early as tomorrow, reports Reuters. Once the fueling is complete, chemicals that cause corrosion need to be injected into the rocket, pushing the urgency of a launch. "We don't really care about the opinions from the outside. This is critical in order to develop our national economy," said the head of the control center at the Korean Committee of Space Technology. North Korea has declared a five-day window beginning tomorrow for the rocket launch, to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Kim Il Sung. Click for moreon therocket test.